Another View: Keep both eyes on your lawmakers, Louisiana

MONROE, La. -- As the 2013 Legislature convenes on Monday, we are reminded of one of our favorite editorial cartoons:

Two things you never want to watch if you can help it - sausage being made and your Legislature in action.

Living in Louisiana, we've seen both processes.

And we've come to the conclusion that making sausage is far cleaner than making law.This year's Legislature comes in fighting a significant budget deficit with moving parts that must fall into place to somehow guarantee that our state hospitals and universities are able to keep their doors open.

The rush to education reform last year has left a wake of debris that we hope the Legislature will consider more carefully than it did the bills of 2012.

And the elephant in the room is Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax reform proposals. This editorial board has not been able to take a stand on the proposals because, quite frankly, the proposals have been moving targets.

Yes, tax reform is a good idea.

But this isn't a clean operation. The impact of the various components is not known, and we find ourselves aligning with the wisdom of the Council for a Better Louisiana, which recommends a phased proposal so the financial impact of each element can be measured.

We know we do not support an increase in sales tax to the level that it will make it difficult for local taxes that are important for our communities to be renewed.We do not support a plan that cumulatively would negatively impact our struggling families through increased sales taxes, removing exemptions and placing taxes on services we all use in our daily lives.

We also know we do not support a plan that would place a greater tax burden on business.

So, we encourage you - the taxpayers of Louisiana - to keep a close eye on what happens in Baton Rouge in the coming days and weeks.

Speak up, contact them, let them know your thoughts.

If you don't, you may find yourself making a lot of sausage. Just to make ends meet.

---The News-Star, Monroe, La.

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Another View: Keep both eyes on your lawmakers, Louisiana

MONROE, La. -- As the 2013 Legislature convenes on Monday, we are reminded of one of our favorite editorial cartoons:Two things you never want to watch if you can help it - sausage being made and